Valve assembly



Feb. 18, 1941. G DOWNEY 2,232,597

VALVE ASSEMBLY Filed July 15, 19:59 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 C Tau/nay album Patented Feb. 18, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VALVE ASSEMBLY George '1. Downey, Corry, Pa., assignor'to Aero Supply Manufacturing 00., Inc., Corry, Pa.

Application July 13, 1939, Serial No. 284,313

1, Claim.

a valve structure of this kind wherein the fluid.

may be communicated with a common discharge, the fluid being received from a selected intake pipe line connected to the valve structure and the valve structure including an improved assembly wherein the valve head may be, readily removed for replacement when necessary.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved valve structure of this kind wherein the fluid passing through the valve housing will not be subjected to any appreciable loss of pressure by reason of having to pass through a series of intersecting elements;

A still further object of this invention is to provide a valve structure of this kind wherein the valve seat and guideare removably mounted in the valve housing and may be constructed of material having a different character than the valve housing so that the valve seat will more readily resist wear and can be reground where valve head so that when the valve leaks the,

gasket can be readily replaced without making it necessary to send the entire valve structure back to the factory for readjustment or reseating of the valves. I

A further object of this invention is to provide a valve structure of this kind which is particularly adapted for use'in a gasoline feed line and is more especially adapted for use in a gasoline feed line'or lines associated with an airplane engine so as to permit the connection'of the engine with a selected source of fuel supply normally carried by the airplane.

A further object of this invention is to provide a valve structure or assembly which is more simple in construction then devices heretofore available so that the valve structure will not get out of order as easily as other structures of this kind and so that when repairs are necessary such repairs may be easily and quickly made.

Embodylng'the foregoing aims and to others which may directly or indirectly hereinafter appear, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more specifically referredto and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein are shown embodiments of the invention, but'it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications may be resorted-to which fall within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

In the drawings: I

Figure 1 is a detailed front elevation partly in section of a valve structure or assembly constructed according to an embodiment of this invention,

Figure .2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line bers associated with this device,

Figure ,5 is a sectional view partly in elevation of a modified form of valve member including a valve seat, r I

Figure 6 is a bottom planview of the structure shown in Figure 5, 1

Figure '1 is a detail side elevation of the index plate, and

Figure 8 is a detail side elevation of a modified A form of ham with the associated valve stems broken away.

Referring to the drawings and first to Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, the numeral Ill designates generally a housing which is provided on the interior thereof. with a fluid chamber II. The

housing In is provided with a plurality of radially arrangedbosses I! provided with a fluid passage l3and each boss I2 has a bushing or coupling member 14 mounted in the outer end thereof to which a fluid supply line I5 is adapted to be connected. The coupling member I4 is provided with a flange I6 which is adapted to be secured as by bolts or screws I! to the outer end of a boss l2 and a gasket l8 may be interposed between the flange l6 and the outer end llfl0lll'l'ted in the opening It. The valve seat member it comprises a cylindrical body 21 provided at its outer end with a flange 22 and the outer face of the flange 22 together with the outer end of the cylindrical member 2|, are faced off so-as to provide a flat valve seat 23. The housing i8 is provided with a recess or seat 24 within which the flange 22 is adapted to engage so that the valve seat 23 will be substantially flush with a shoulder 25 provided at the inner end of the boss i2. Preferably the cylindrical member 2| and the flange 22 are pressed into the opening l9 so as to firmly retain the combined valve seat and guide member 28 in the opening or port I9.

A valve member or head 26 is provided with a valve stem 2'! and an enlarged portion 28 is provided at a point inwardly of the valve head 26 and about the stem 21. This enlarged portion 28 is provided with an axial opening or socket 29 the purpose of which will be hereinafter described.

A gasket or sealing member 38 formed of composition material engages against the inner face of the valve head 26 and is provided with a central opening 3| in which the enlarged socket member 28 is received. A clamping plate 32 engages against the inner face of the gasket 38 and has a diameter substantially smaller than the diameter of the gasket 38 so that the plate 32 will engage interiorly of the cylindrical body 2|. Theplate 32 is held in clamping position by means of a split holding ring 33 which engages in a groove 34 provided on the periphery of the socket member 28. In this manner when the gasket 38 becomes worn the plate 32 may be removed by expanding the ring 33 and removing 'the plate 32 so as to permit replacement of the gasket 38.

The cylindrical member 2| is provided with a pair of diametrically opposed extensions 36 and a connecting bar 36 extends diametrically across the body 2| and connects the two extensions 36 together. The connecting bar 36 also acts as a valve stem guide support and may be formed integral with the extensions 36 and the cylindrical member 2|. A valve guiding boss 31 is carried by the supporting bar 36 and is provided with a central opening 38 in which the stem 21 slidably engages. As shown in the drawings the guiding boss 31 has its inner end flush with the inner face of the supporting bar 36 and extends outwardly for a distance substantially equal to the length of the two extensions 36.

The valve head 26 and the gasket 38 are held in a closed position by means of a spring 39 which at one end engages within the socket 29 and at the other end engages against a plate 48. The plate 48 is held centrally of the passage 39 by means of a plurality of radially disposed arms 4| and preferably the inner ends of the arms 4| are provided with outwardly offset portions 42 which form a spring seat 43 within which the outer end of the spring 39 engages. The arms 4| are provided at their outer endswith outwardly offset portions 44 which are adapted to engage a seat 45 formed by an inwardly projecting rib 46 which is formed integral with the boss I2. The spider or spring holding member comprising the plate 48 and the radial arms 4| is held on the seat 45 by means of' a split holding ring 41 engaging in a groove 48 provided in the boss I2. In the present instance there are shown three bosses I2 and three valve members 26 so that the fuel supply for the engine may be received from a selected one of three different sources of fuel supply.

The housing I8 is provided in a side wall 49" thereof with an outlet port 68 and a bushing 6| engages in the port or opening 68 and is provided with a flange 62 which is adapted to be secured as by screws or bolts 64 to the wall 49. An outlet pipe 66 is adapted to be threaded into the bushing 6| and connected to the carburetor of an internal combustion engine. A gasket 66 is adapted to be interposed between the flange 62 and the outer face of the side wall 49 so as to seal the bushing 6| on the housing l8. The bushing 6| communicates with the central or common chamber ll of the housing 8.

The valve members 26 are selectively held in an open position by means of a cam or valve operating member 61 which is secured as by a pin or fastening member 68 to a reduced portion 69 of a cam operatingshaft 68. The shaft 68 is journaled through the opposite side wall 6| of the housing l8 and at its outer end is provided with a holder or coupling member 62 with which an operating handle of suitable construction is adapted to be engaged. The holder 62 is secured to the shaft 68 by means of a pin or fastening meniber 63. I

The shaft 68 at its inner end is provided with a reduced portion 64 extending inwardly of the reduced portion 69 and this reduced portion or stud 64 is journaled in a bearing 65 carried by a U-shaped supporting member 66. The bearing supporting member 66 has the bearing65 mounted in the center of the blght and the parallel legs of the support are formed integral with an annulus 6'! which tightly engages in the opening 68. The inner end of the boss 5| engages within the annulus 61.

The shaft 68 is sealed relative to the wall 6| of the housing l8 by means of a sealing gasket 68 which engages about the shaft 68 and is mounted in. a-recess 69 provided on the interior of the wall 6|. A cup-shaped gasket compressing member I8 is provided with a cylindrical inner portion H and engages against the inner face of the gasket 68. The gasket holding member comprising the cup 18 and the bushing or cylindrical member II is held against inward movement on the shaft 68 by means of a split holding ring I2 engaging in a groove I3 provided in'the shaft 68. A compression spring-14 is disposed about the shaft 68 and at one end engages against the inner face of the cup I8 and about the bushing II. The

inner end of the spring I4 engages against anindex plate I5 loosely mounted on the shaft 68 and provided with radially disposed L-shaped arms I6. The spider comprising the plate 16 and the radial arms I6 is held against rotation relative to the housing |8 by means of a pair of pins II which are mounted in recesses 18 provided in the wall 6|. 7 the shaft 68 between the outer face of the wall or bearing member 6| and the inner end of the coupling member 62 so that the spring 14 will not only hold the gasket 66 tightly against the inner face of the bearing 6|, but will hold the yoke 62 against the wear plate I8.

In Figures 5 and 6 there is disclosed a slightly modified form of valve structure including a cylindrical body 2| which is adapted to be posi tioned in a port or opening similar to l9 and which is provided at its outer end with ,a flange 22 and a valve seat 23'. A valve head 26 similar to the valve head 26 has a gasket 38' secured Ill A wear plate I9 is disposed about groove 34' provided in a socket member 28 The valve head 26' has a valve stem '21 which slidably streamlined construction which will not unduly obstruct the flow of fluid through the cylindrical member 2P. In addition by disposing the supporting member 36 in edgewise relation this supporting member will more firmly brace the guide 26.

The valve stem "21 at its inner end is provided with a rounded cam engaging portion 86 and the peak or high point of the cam 61 is provided withv a substantially fiat valve stem engaging portion 8|.

In the use and operation of this valve structure the cam 61 is rotated by means ofa suitable handie which may be connected to the coupling member 62. When the shaft 60 is rotated to the desired P sition the cam 61 will push the selected valve stem outwardly so as to raise the valve head 26 and the gasket 36 off of the selected valve seat 23. This will permit communication between the selected supply pipe l6 and the common fluid chamber II. The fluid entering the chamber I I will pass freely out through the outlet port 60 and the outlet 65'.

With a structure or this kind when one or more of the valves are found to leak the valves may be removed by releasing the spider comprising the plate 60 and the arms 4!. This is done by withdrawing the split ring 41 so as to permit the spider to be withdrawn. The selected valve or valves may then be pulled'outwardly through the selected boss I2. The gasket 36 on the worn valve head 26' may be replaced by expanding the split ring 33 and releasing the clamping plate 32. A new gasket so may then be placed against the inner face of the valve head 26 and clamped as herelnbefore described.

Theindex plate 16 is providedwith radial V- shaped detents s: which are adapted to engage radial V-shaped recesses 63 formed in a face of them I! so that when a detent I: is engaged in a selected recess 63 the cam 61 fwill'be yieldably held in a valve opening position. The detent I! may be so arranged and of such number that in one position of the cam 61 relative to the index plate II the cam 61 will be held in a valve closing position.

In Figure 8 there is disclosed a modified form of valve operating cam 61. The cam 61' includes a flat body part of substantially egg-shaped contour having a circular effect on one side. The diameter of the offset isless than the length of said body part. A portion of the edge of the offset is flush withthe edge of the smaller end of axially of said circular offset.

the same manner as the cam 61. The detents 82 of the index plate 15 are adapted to selectively engage in the recesses 83. The cam is so constructed that during the rotation thereof one valve 26 will be in' partly opened position while a succeeding valve 26 is beginning to open. In this manner there will not at any time be a complete cut-off of one source of supply before a succeeding supply source is placed in communication with the common chamber II. This will assure a continuous supply of fuel to the chamber.

ll irrespective of how fast the cam 51' is rotated and irrespective of whether the cam 61' should he accidentally turned to a position between a pair of valve stems 21.

A valve structure or assembly of this character will eliminate static losses which are now present in valve structures of this kind due to the fact that the fluid from the supply source is subjected to a minimum of intersecting elements through the valve assembly. It will, therefore.

be appreciated that where the fluid supply moves under gravity the movement or flow of the fluid will not be unduly retarded by the structural ele ments comprising this valve assembly.

what I claim is:

A valve assembly comprising a housing form- V a pair of end walls, radially disposed bosses integral with the housing providing spaced inlet portsopening into said chamber through said side walls, said chamber being formed with an outlet at one end wall thereof, a U-shaped sup stem projecting into said chamber, a rotatable non-slidable shaft extending into said chamber.- rotatably supported at its inner end bysaid bight and rotatably supported intermediate its ends by the other end wall of said chamber, a cam fixedly secured to saidshaft in proximity to said bight for successively shifting said stems toselectively that upon the travel thereof from one stem to a succeeding stem the valve with which said one stem is correlatedwill be in partly open position during the initial opening of that valve with which the succeeding stem is correlated, said cam having a circular offset on one side thereof formed with radially disposed V-shaped recesses. a sealing means about said shaft bearing against inner face of the said other end wall. said shaft being formed intermediate its ends with an endless peripheral groove, a split retaining rin mounted in said groove for said means, an axially apertured circular index plate on said shaft,

bearing against said offset and formed with d1- disposed 'apertured'arms, and pins projecting from the innerfaceofthesaidother endwalland in said arms to prevent the revolving of the index plate relative to the shaft.

GEORGE .-'r.

ing a fluid-receiving chamber having a sideand open said valves and being so formed to provide 

